Even if he leaves Remparts after 26 years, Jacques Tanguay has no intention of severing ties with Laval University’s Rouge et Or football programme, which he considers his baby.
Tanguay has been President of the Rouge et Or Board of Directors since the club was founded in 1995, which he co-founded with Maurice Filion, Marius Fortier and business people from the region. He would like to continue his commitment for a long time.
“I will be loyal to Rouge et Or for a very, very long time,” he said. After 28 years, Glenn [Constantin] is part of my family. The same goes for Justin [Éthier] and Mark [Fortier] who were there practically from the beginning.”
The commitment of both teams is very different. “The commitment is not comparable,” he explained. Efforts and sacrifices are very different. A hockey season lasts 10 months. In soccer, I meet the players in August at the start of the season and a few times a year, and December 1st is all ready.
Open to the return of college hockey
However, Tanguay makes a different speech regarding possible varsity hockey participation when he affirms that he will not return to the QMJHL within two or three years if an opportunity arises.
The RSEQ and the Quebec government want to increase the number of Quebec teams in the university network to encourage development and provide a platform for college players. Many QMJHL alumni pursuing scholarship programs have had to turn to the Maritimes, Ontario, or the West due to a lack of opportunities in Quebec.
For now, only the McGill Redbirds, the Concordia Stingers and the UQTR Patriotes have to play at the Ontario Circuit.
“It would be extraordinary if the hockey project came to Laval,” he said. We’ve been hearing about this project for several years. If the RSEQ and the government are really serious about moving forward, I would be very happy to give them a helping hand.